Tensions reached a breaking point on the second day of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide as England captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Jofra Archer were involved in a heated on-field confrontation. The exchange served as a visual representation of the immense pressure facing the English side as they struggled to contain a dominant Australian lower order.
Ben Stokes loses temper, scolds Jofra Archer
The conflict centered around Mitchell Starc’s aggressive counter-attack, which saw Australia resume at 326/8. Archer drew the ire of his captain by persisting with a short-pitched bowling strategy against the tailenders rather than attacking the stumps. This tactical choice allowed Starc to find his rhythm and race to a half-century, further extending Australia's lead and frustrating the tourists.
ALSO READ: India star diagnosed with dengue and chikungunya ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
The disagreement became public when social media footage captured a stern Stokes addressing Archer. While the clip lacked audio, lip-readers and commentators like Mark Waugh interpreted the message as a sharp critique of Archer's execution; Stokes reportedly told the pacer not to complain about field settings if he wasn't prepared to bowl a fuller length. The breakdown in communication was briefly palpable to everyone at the Adelaide Oval.
Watch the video here:
ALSO READ: India's squads for T20 World Cup 2026 and New Zealand series to be announced on this date
The tension produced an immediate result, as Archer adjusted his length on the very next delivery, firing a full ball that shattered Starc’s off stump for 54. The dismissal led to a dramatic moment where Stokes celebrated with a "told you so" gesture, while Archer reacted with visible relief. Although the pair eventually shared a high-five, the intensity of the moment was unmistakable. Despite the friction, Archer ended the innings with a brilliant 5 for 53, marking his first Test five-wicket haul since 2019
The tension between Stokes and Archer saw commentators offering differing perspectives on the captain's leadership style. Adam Gilchrist observed that Stokes appeared to be operating 'right on the edge', suggesting that the captain was deliberately using high-intensity interactions to instill belief and physically drag his struggling team back into the contest.
In contrast, Ricky Ponting focused on the raw emotion of the exchange. He highlighted Archer’s visible frustration and noted that Stokes’ blunt approach seemed like a calculated attempt to "slap some sense" into his premier fast bowler. Despite the earlier friction, the two players managed to put their differences aside when they shifted to their batting roles. Coming together late in the day, they stitched an unbeaten 45-run partnership for the ninth wicket, providing England with a much-needed spark of resistance.
However, despite their late-order heroics, England ended Day 2 in a precarious position. The visitors reached stumps at 213/8, still trailing Australia by 158 runs. With the series on the line, the tourists face an uphill battle to avoid a defeat that would allow Australia to firmly retain the Ashes.